For as much noise as Luka Doncic has made with his play on the court, he’s been pretty soft-spoken in media sessions this season. He keeps things short and sweet, most of the time saying simple and unsurprising things.

That’s why when he spoke about Salah Mejri after a Mavericks loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on February 8th, his words held significant weight.

“Probably I wouldn’t be the player I am right now if he wouldn’t be here to help me get through my first days here,” Doncic said regarding Mejri’s impact on his rise to NBA stardom.

“That’s a bit exaggerated,” Mejri said.

Doncic made the reflection somberly, not just because the Mavericks lost that game but because Mejri had been waived the previous day. The Mavericks had traded Harrison Barnes to the Sacramento Kings in return for Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph and initially needed to create a roster spot. It came at Mejri’s expense.